659 - Umbilical Cord blood Proteomics: A Promising New Avenue for Early-onset Sepsis in Preterm Infants

Saturday, April 29, 2023

3:30 PM – 6:00 PM ET

Poster Number: 659
Publication Number: 659.24

Dong Li, The first affiliated hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China (People's Republic); JIngfei Liu, Department of Neonatology, Dalian Women and Children's Medical Group, Dalian, Liaoning, China (People's Republic); Xiaomeng Liu, Dalian Women and Children's Medical Group, Dalian, Liaoning, China (People's Republic); Shuai Lv, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, DaLian, Liaoning, China (People's Republic)

Presenting Author(s)

DL

Dong Li, MD. PhD. (she/her/hers)

Director of neonatology department
The first affiliated hospital of Dalian Medical University
Dalian, Liaoning, China (People's Republic)

Background: Early-onset sepsis is a significant and potentially preventable cause of preterm morbidity and mortality. Early and accurate diagnosis of infection will improve clinical outcomes. Umbilical cord blood exosomes can exert biological effects.

Objective: This research aims to analyze the proteomics of premature umbilical cord blood plasma exosomes, explore the molecular mechanism of exosome proteins in the pathogenesis of neonatal sepsis, and diagnosis early-onset sepsis in prematures.

Design/Methods: 19 premature infants with high risk factors for sepsis were gathered. Umbilical artery blood (2ml) was harvested, and exosomes were extracted by ultracentrifugation. The cord blood samples with blood cultures proven were analysed the proteomics. Differentially expressed proteins and target genes were detected by GO/KEGG enrichment analysis.

Results:

Cord blood exosomes were successfully extracted, and proved under transmission electron microscopy, and CD9 and CD63 expression by Western blotting. The exosome concentrations in the EOS group87.00 [15.00, 202.00] ug/mL and control groups 16.10 [11.40, 30.00]ug/mL separately, the difference was significant statistically (z = -2.613, p = 0.009).

For the blood culture-proven infants (EOS group, n=3), A total of 221 differentially expressed proteins were selected, including 132 up-regulated proteins and 89 down-regulated proteins. The GO enrichment analysis showed that a total of 41 GO items were obtained, including 16 biological processes items, 11 cellular components items, and 12 molecular functions items. KEGG were mainly enriched in the intracellular protein complexes of immune cells, the proteasome, ribosome biogenesis in eukaryotes, the endocrine system, and other factors that regulate calcium reabsorption. Protein interaction network analysis showed the 152 nodes included 100 up-regulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) to demonstrate protein-protein interactions. The up-regulated proteins PSMA3, PSMA5, PSMA7, PSMD11, and PSMC5 play an essential role.

Conclusion(s):

Umbilical cord blood could be a new measure for the timely diagnosis of EOS in premature infants. The detection of plasma exosomal proteins PSMA3, PSMA5, PSMA7, PSMD11, and PSMC5 is expected to be new biomarkers for the early diagnosis of sepsis in preterm infants.